The US will provide temporary immigration benefits to Ukrainians, including protection from deportation and issuance of work permits to tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are now in the US but cannot return to their homeland, said Department of Homeland Security.

This measure will allow Ukrainians who entered the United States before March 1, 2022 to remain in the country and work legally for 18 months, Voice of America reports.

Citizens of Ukraine will be granted exemption from deportation and access to work permits under a program known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The program provides protection to immigrants who cannot return to their home countries due to extraordinary circumstances, including armed conflict and natural disasters. Program participants are given the opportunity to stay and work legally in the United States for a specified period of time.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the cessation of deportation flights to Ukraine due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.